Media Contact:
Debra Panzarella, Freehold Raceway Mall, 732-577-1300 x112
Rebecca Stenholm, Macerich, 602-953-6550
FREEHOLD, N.J. – Oct. 8, 2007 – Thirty days from today, Freehold Raceway Mall will open the doors on a new “main street” destination – capping an expansion and renovation project that transformed the interior of the existing center and added nine top-requested retail and dining concepts to the region's premier shopping destination.
Beginning with a ticked charity event to benefit the Friends of Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center on Nov. 8, Monmouth County residents will be able to participate in a weekend filled with grand opening celebrations.
“In January 2007, hundreds of people began bringing this project to life,” noted Township Mayor Dorothy Avallone. “This project is truly a community destination – the result of community input, retailer insights and a true collaboration between municipal staff and the Freehold Raceway Mall team. It has been exciting to watch it unfold and in one month we will be able to celebrate one of the year's most significant milestones.”
The expansion and renovation was a response to retailer interest in the market and area shoppers' desire for new shopping options at Monmouth County's premier regional shopping center. A majority of the retail space in the lifestyle expansion will open Nov. 9, with the remaining space slated to open in phases in 2008.
In all, Freehold Raceway Mall's lifestyle expansion will deliver nine top-requested retailers and restaurant options to the market in time for the holiday shopping season – The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Border's Books and Music, Jared The Galleria of Jewelry, Ann Taylor, Chico's, Coldwater Creek, White House / Black Market and The Territory Ahead.
The interior renovation also led to significant retail additions. In 2007, Freehold Raceway Mall added 13 new retailers, including several first-to-markets: Robot Galaxy, Amuse, ProImage, Ruehl and Solstice. An additional 8 percent of the center's existing retailers expanded and/or renovated their location to complement the renovation.
“We are extremely proud of this new venue and what it brings to Freehold Township,” said Frank Lucia, senior property manager for Freehold Raceway Mall. “One of the strongest assets that Monmouth County has is the passion that our leadership and our residents have for the lifestyle and amenities that deliver an exceptional quality of life for our families. We are very proud that we are helping to ensure that bar continues to be raised.”
The grand opening will kick off at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 as guests are treated to a sophisticated evening – New Jersey style – of entertainment and a sophisticated menu prepared by National Catering Association Chef of the Year Jack McCann, executive chef and founder of Merri-Makers. The event will be set against the main street backdrop, which will be lined with trees adorned in elegant white lights.
A full schedule of Freehold Raceway Mall's grand opening events – including information about purchasing tickets to attend the Nov. 8 charity benefit for the Friends of Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center and the option to receive regular e-mail updates – are available via the center's Web site www.freeholdracewaymall.com.
Located at the intersection of Routes 33, 9 and 537, Freehold Raceway Mall is owned and operated by Macerich® (NYSE: MAC).
Macerich is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. The company is the sole general partner and owns an 84% ownership interest in The Macerich Partnership, L.P. Macerich now owns approximately 77 million square feet of gross leaseable area consisting primarily of interests in 73 regional malls. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company's Web site at www.macerich.com.